A big fan of the game of baseball itself, who just happens to have no favorite team.

Q and A With Jason Adam

This is the second time I’ve conducted an interview with Jason Adam. If you’d like to check out the first one, click HERE.

In the full season in between the first interview I did with Jason Adam and this one, Adam did a great job of honing his skills as a pitcher. Lowering his ERA from 4.23 the previous year, to 3.53 for 2012, Adam showed off his ability to locate all three of his pitches consistently.

In addition to a lower ERA, Adam was also able to increase his average number of innings per game, from 5 innings in 2011, up to 6 innings; further evidence of how much Adam matured as a pitcher in 2012.

Adam spent all of 2012 with A+ Wilmington, and although he failed to end the season with a win-loss record at, or above, .500 (as was the case in 2011), as stated, he improved statistically in nearly every category that he, himself, could control. (I feel the win-loss record is overrated anyway.)

It’s likely that Adam will begin the 2013 season at AA Northwest Arkansas, however, that won’t be determined until late March. No matter where Adam begins 2013, if he can continue to develop into the pitcher he’s capable of becoming, it shouldn’t be all that terribly long before he’s on the mound up in Kansas City, pitching for his hometown Royals.

Jason Adam–top 10 prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization–took the time recently to answer some of my questions:

1.) At the beginning of last season you stated that you were looking to do a better job in 2012 of controlling the running game, along with consistently locating your three pitches. For the most part, you seemed to do just that this past season. What do you feel allowed you to accomplish those goals?

I think all that it really took was a little bit of effort. Controlling the run game is something that you can do regardless of talent level. And as far as consistently locating all 3 pitches, part of the improvement was due to another year of pitching under my belt. I also had a much higher focus level in all my bullpens and playing catch every day.

2.)Being ranked as one of the top 10 prospects in the Royals’ organization, does it have any affect on you, in terms of living up to the expectations?

I try not to pay too much attention to the prospect rankings at all. My goal is not to be a top prospect, it is to be a top MLB pitcher. If I focus on the goals I set for myself, and what the Royals organization wants me to do, then all the rest will take care of itself.

3.)Is there any one stat that you pay attention to throughout the season? Or do you try to steer clear of them altogether?

I generally try to ignore my stats until the season is over. I don’t want thoughts of lowering my ERA clogging my head when I’m not throwing well, and I especially don’t want to get a big ego when things are going well for me. Pride comes right before the fall. I do like to look at minor stats such as first pitch strike percentage and off speed pitch percentage, because those are things I feel I can make improvements on between starts.

4.)You seemed to have a close team this past season. Do you feel your relationship with your teammates off the field transfers onto the field, in terms of playing together as a team?

I absolutely believe that a close team off the field leads to winning on the field. If you look at all the championship teams and talk to all the players, they almost always talk about how close their clubhouse was. It just makes the game more fun and when you can play the game thinking about what you can do to best serve your team instead of best serving yourself, then the results will always be better.

5.)Talk a little bit about life on the road. What’s the most difficult aspect of it? What do you do to pass the time? And although you’re playing the game you love, does it ever get old?

I don’t mind life on the road too bad. I can sleep on the bus pretty well, so most the trips don’t seem too terribly long. If I’m not sleeping I’ll just listen to music and stare out the window. It keeps me entertained enough. The only part I really don’t like is the constant packing and unpacking and basically living out of a suitcase. None of it has gotten old to me yet. And I don’t see it getting old, because hopefully before I have time to get sick of it I will be in the big leagues where travel is pretty luxurious to say the least. I’m very blessed to get paid to play the game that I love, so remembering how lucky I am helps me keep from getting sick of the travel.

6.) Obviously the ultimate goal, as it is for every MiLB player, is to make it to the big leagues. What would it mean to you to make it to the majors? (Especially with the added aspect of playing for your hometown team.)

Thinking about making it to the big leagues, with my hometown team the Royals, gives me the chills every time. It’s the place and team I grew up dreaming about playing for ever since I can remember. But I don’t just want to make it, I want to make it and be a big part of the Royals turning themselves back into a consistent World Series contender, and bring that World Series trophy back to KC.

7.) What was the most memorable moment from the 2012 season?

I would have to say when we clinched a spot in the postseason. We had just won our game, and now all we needed was the other team to lose. We were all huddled in Vance’s office around the computer, listening to the game, and when they recorded the last out we went nuts.

8.) What are your plans for the remainder of the offseason to prepare yourself for the 2013 season?

I’m living in Arizona all offseason and training at the Royals’ facility in Surprise. My goal is to put on some more good weight and refine my mechanical flaws to bring back the velocity and command that I think I should have. I’ll work as hard as I can, and let God take care of the rest.

2 Comments

Thanks. I agree, the minor leaguers are great with the fans; they’ve always been nice to me. It’s too bad some of them forget where they came from, once they hit the majors, and stop being fan friendly.

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